When an altruistic government’s plan to “think of the children” leads to a Citizen Amendment and a ban on birth control – life sentences for abortion, miscarriages treated as suspect – the aftermath prompts the government to take a new approach: nationwide parent licensing.

Of course, this presents its own set of challenges…

“[The Age of the Child] tempts us into a conversation that we’ve not had with spouses, friends, or acquaintances. This is a book for those who like to dig into a good story but also to be challenged by ‘what if’ questions.” – Elizabeth Marro, author of Casualties

Hauntingly spare and shimmeringly powerful, [Pretty Much True] does what the best books do—it hurls you into a world you only think you understand and makes it living, breathing and absolutely engrossing.—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel, Beautiful World

As a television news correspondent, I spent years reporting from military bases where young families and lovers were being separated by the decisions of old men. Pretty Much True is a near-perfect rendering of a story about those who wait under the awful burden of not knowing an outcome.—James C. Moore, co-author of the New York Times best-selling Bush’s Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential

The Year of Dan Palace is a book to savour and enjoy the beautiful clarity of the writing. Stunningly good.—Indie Bookworm Reviews

The Year of Dan Palace is honest, original, and impossible to put down. With a wholly distinctive narrative voice, Chris Jane is a 21st Century Bukowski.—Joseph Dilworth Jr., Pop Culture Zoo

childfree conversation

from the blog

A lot of years ago, on a now-abandoned WordPress site, I made A book’s stages of growth: in pictures after having written my first novel, Homefront (Homefront later became Pretty Much True, which became Pretty Much True by Chris Jane, and yes it’s all the same story. Regerts, I have a few). Now that The Age

*for the Journal Inquirer (& still more than relevant enough to re-post years later) Federal prosecutors have said one-time East Hartford, Conn. “pimp” Brian Forbes sold two young women to another “pimp” for a promised payment of more than $1,000 in late 2003. The sale — for which Forbes never actually received payment, according to

Between Two Worlds by Tyler Henry Oh, that wide-smiling, angel-haired Tyler. Am I crazy to believe he talks to dead people? Yes, you say, but I say no. If famous actors—many of them ardent skeptics, mind you—believe him, shouldn’t I? For the sake of argument, let’s say believing something a celebrity believes just because a

I’ll admit to being uncomfortable with, but not judgmental of, polyamory. My discomfort could be a direct consequence of my having been socialized to believe in one-person romantic love. (One person at a time, that is.) I blame pre-teen readings of Danielle Steele. (“Blame” is the wrong word. I’m quite happy with my belief that

I think it’s natural that people will see a book cover heading this post and assume, “This chick’s trying to sell her book again.” It’s a safe assumption, because I am. But for a reason. The whole thing was written for a reason. (Please indulge me.) “I would never want a book’s autograph. I am

“They make you study and get a license to drive a car. You need a license to buy a gun. Hell, you can’t even go fishing without a license. But I tell ya, they’ll let any ______ have a child.” I can’t be the only one who’s heard someone say this. I can’t be the